Lock mechanism for ignition-control and theft-alarm device for automobiles



FLF. KUIIN. LOCK MECHANISM FOR IGNITION CONTROL AND THEFT ALARM DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED DEC-26, I9I9.

Patented Jan. 18,1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

INVENTOR FRANK F. KUHN BY HIS ATTORNEY F. F. KUHN. LOCK MECHANISM FOR TGNITION CONTROL AND THEFT ALARM DEVTCE FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED nmze, 1919.

Patented Jan. 18, 1921.

INVENTOF? FRANK F. KUHN.

BY HTS ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT @FFICE.

FRANK FRED KUI-IN, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF TO ANDREN'C. FOR-SYTH, O33 MINNEATPOLIS, MINNESOTA. I

LOCK MECHANISM FOR IGNITION-CONTROL AND THEFT-ALARM DEVICE non AUTOMOBILES.

Application filed December 26, 1919.

T 0 all whom it may concern;

Be it known that T, FRANK F mm KUHN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Look Mechanism for Ignition-Control and Theft- AlarinDevices for Automobiles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved lock adapted to be used in combination with an ignition control and theft alarm device automobiles, and the main object is to pro vide a device which will prevent unauthorized persons from operating the ignition system tostart the engine, and which will sound an alarm incase an attempt is made to start the engine by anyone except the owner or person authorized by him to use the automobile. I

The full objects and advantages of my invention will appear in connection with the detailed description thereof and the novel features embodied inmy inventive idea will be particularly pointed out in the claims. The invention is fully illustrated 'n the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1v shows the method of connecting my improved locking device to an ignition system using a low tension magneto.

Fig. 2 is a partly sectional view of the locking device. 8

Fig. 3 is a front View of the block in which is mounted the lock switch.

Fig. 4 is a rear view of the block and connections.

Fig. 5 is a. cross sectional View of the block.

Fig. 6 is. a side elevational view of the lock switch.

Fig. 7 is a front view of the locking device in position upon the dash of the automobile.

The locking device hereinafter particularly described and claimed may be used withan ignition system using either a high or low tension magneto, or may alsobe connected with and used in a battery and coil ignition system, but for illustration purposes the low tension magneto system is shown and will be briefly described, as follows:

Referring particularly to Fig. 1, the char actor 10 designates the commutator which is connected by wires 12, 14, 16 and 18 with the primary windings in a coil box 20 in Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an.18, 1921.

Serial No. 847,583.

the usual way. From the secondarywindings in the coilbox, wires 22, 24, 26 and 28 lead to the spark plugs of the engine 30. The magneto wire 82, 38 leads from the magneto terminal 33 to the post 40 of the lock 41, havinga slidable bolt 42 which, in position shown in Fig. 1, is in engagement with a contact 44 which is connected by a wire 46 with the coil box 20.

The lock 41, as best shown in Fig. 5, is secured within the back portion of a cylindrical block 48, having a plurality of holes 50 extending into the same from the front and all constructed to simulate key holes, although only one of these holes leads to the lock 41. 1

Adisk 52 of suitable material is secured to the rear of the block so that it is impossible to tell which of the holes isthe true key hole by the use of a flash light. The holes 50 extend in rowsradially from the center of the block, while in line with each row on thefront face of the block 48 are contact members 54, which are divided into two equal groups. The group of contacts on one-half of the block are connected by a wire 56 which starts at the first contact of the group, and, after reaching the last con tact of the group, passes through the plug and is attached to a contact member 58, positioned near the lock 41 at the rear of the block 48. A wire 60 leads from the contact 58 to the bell 36. The group of contacts on the other half of the block are connected by a wire 62, which starts at the first contact of the group, and after reaching the last contact, passes through the block and is attached'thereto by a screw 64, from which a wire 66 extends to the wire 38 and is connected thereto.

The block 48 carrying the lock, is placed in acasing 68 which is secured to the dash 70 so that the driver, when in his seat, looks at the front of the device. Secured to the front of the casing 68 is an annular ring 72 carrying a circular series of membe r s,.arranged in irregular order and one of which is placed in line with each of the rows of holes 50. Between the block and the ring 72 is a disk 74 rotatively mounted upon a rod 76 which extends through the block 48 and has the contact 58 held thereby. The disk 74 is provided with a single radial row of holes 78 which may be made to register with any one of the radial rows of holes 50. The disk 74 has a handle member 80 extending out from the front thereof, by which it can be rotated. It will be understood that the lock 41 may have its key hole in any one of the radial rows of openings in the block a8 and that the arrangement is varied for different cars. When the sliding bolt 42 is in the position shown in Fig. 1, the circuit from the magneto to the ignition system is completed and the engine may be started and operated, but when the bolt 4-2 is turned by the key into the position shown in Fig. 4, the circuit to the ignition system is broken and it is impossible to operate the engine. In the latter position, the bolt 42 is in engagement with the contact member 58 as shown in Fig. 4. The inner face of the disk 74 is provided with insulating material 82, while two contact studs 84 and 86 are secured to the disk and extend through the insulating material. The two studs are diametrically opposite each other and at the same radial distance as the contact members 5 so that when the holes 78 in the disk register with any one of the radial row of holes 50, the wires :56 and 62 will be'bridged by the disk 74. If an attempt be made to crank the engine with the lock in the position shown in Fig. 4, current fromthe magneto cannot pass to the ignition system. If the disk 74 is in position so that the holes 78 therein register with any one of the radial rows of holes 50, the contacts 84 and 86 will engage two contacts of the two groups connected by the wires 56 and 62 respectively and current will pass from the magneto when it is turned, through the wires 66, 62, the disk 74 and wires 56 and to o aerate the bell and thus sound an alarm. .f an attempt be made to crank the engine without placing the holes 78 in register with the holes 50, then the current will pass through the wires 32, 38, the bolt 42 and the wire 60 to sound the alarm. Therefore, in addition to its being extremely difiicult for an unauthorized person to pick the lock, it will be impossible for him to tamper with the lock without ringing the bell. lVhen an authorized personwho knows the number for which the lock is set places the bolt 42 in the position shown in Fig. 1, and turns the disk 74 so that the contacts 84 and 86 do not engage the contact 54, the engine may be started without sounding the alarm.

Having now therefore fully shown and described my invention together with an illustrative form of ignition system adapted to be used in connection therewith, what I claim to be new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is 1. In a device of the class described, a suitably mounted cylindrical block having a plurality of longitudinal holes therein, a. lock secured to the rear end of said block and adapted to be operated by a key inserted through one of said holes, a disk revolubly mounted upon the front end of said block and having holes adapted to register with said first mentioned holes.

In a device of the class described, a suitable cylindrical block having a plurality of longitudinal holes therein, said holes simulating key holes, a lock secured to the rear end of said block and having its key hole in alinement with one of said holes, a disk revolubly mounted on the front face of said block, said disk having holes adapted to register with said first mentioned holes.

3. In a device of the class described, a block having a plurality of longitudinal holes therein, a lock secured to the rear end of said block, said lock being adapted to be operated through one of said holes, a disk rotatably mounted on the front end of said block, said disk having a row of radially arranged holes adapted to register with said first mentioned holes.

4. In a device of the class described, a substantially cylindrical block having a plurality of holes extending longitudinally therethrough, said holes being arranged in radial rows, a disk rotatably mounted upon the front end of said block, said disk having a radial row of holes adapted to expose any one of said first mentioned rows of holes, a lock secured to the rear end of said block and adapted to be operated by a key inserted through one of said holes in the block.

5. In a device of the class described, a substantially cylindrical block having a plurality of holes extending longitudinally therethrough, said holes being arranged in radial rows, a disk rotatably mounted upon the front end of said block, said disk having a radial row of holes adapted to expose any one of said first mentioned rows of holes, a rim positioned over the periphery of said disk and having indicating characters eorresponding with said radial rows of holes in the block, a lock secured to the rear end of said block and adapted to be operated by a key inserted through one of said holes in the block.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

FRANK FRED KUHN. 

